NSWCUSA - Annual Dinner and Awards Night

NSW Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association | April 16, 2024

New South Wales Cricket Umpires’ and Scorers’ Association held its annual dinner and awards night on Saturday at Bankstown Sports Club with 198 members and guests attending, a wonderful turn out. The evening was superbly organised by Troy Penman, with great support from Bede Sajowitz. They did an outstanding job, appreciated by all. Daniel Anderson was an exemplary MC, he may well have a job for life. 

Our members travelled from Casino in the north, Albury in the south, Temora in the south west and Bathurst in the west to celebrate season 2023-24, our 111th year of service to cricket in New South Wales. There was a great spirit evident in the room as people seemed to really enjoy the event. 

We welcomed special guests in: 

-           Our Patrons Dick French, Graham Reed and Simon Taufel

-           Greg Mail representing CNSW

-           Roy Formica, Brian Freedman, Sean Mantle and Nick Stapleton representing the Sydney Cricket Association

-           Paul Dilley and Bruce Whitehouse representing the New South Wales Country Cricket Association

-           16 life members

-           Six country zone umpire representatives

 

The evening saw many highlights. 

Alan Marshall (#14) and Arthur Watson (#15) were inducted into the NSWCUSA Hall of Fame. This was beautifully put together by the Association, appreciated by members of the late Alan Marshall’s family and by Arthur Watson and his wife, Ann, who were in attendance. Arthur spoke superbly about his work with Alan over many years in honouring him. Alan and Arthur have been such outstanding ambassadors and contributors on and off the field. We owe so much to those who dug the well in the NSWCUSA, standing strongly on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Alan and Arthur were deserving HoF inductees, they have done and achieved so much. Given their friendship, teamwork and respective contributions, it was fitting they were honoured on the same night. 

We made special presentations recognising the service to cricket of Roy Formica and Bruce Whitehouse. Both are appreciated and were warmly applauded. 

Andrew Hamilton, Roberto Howard and Sharad Patel received their Level 3 Accreditation Certificate having successfully completed the Cricket Australia High Performance Umpire Program.  

We recognised the exceptional international umpiring career of Paul Wilson who spoke passionately about his officiating journey having previously been an international cricketer. Paul endorsed our New South Wales umpiring system, being a great advocate for it to the Australian Cricket Council. 

Phil Rainger (Newcastle District Cricket Umpires’ Association) received the Kevin Pye Medal (Country Umpire of the Year) and Neil Smith (Murray Border Cricket Umpires’ Association) the Ted Wykes Medal (Affiliated Association Award), both were deserving recipients. Wonderful to see our talented country umpires recognised and to hear them speak so humbly about their respective seasons and experiences. We are a State-wide Association.

Jim Harrod was a popular recipient of the Women’s Premier Cricket First Grade Umpire of the Year while the highly respected Jeff Evans (St George District Cricket Club) received the Malcolm Gorham Scorers’ Award. 

In each match in men’s premier cricket the captains assess the umpires. Jake Wholohan had an amazing night. He was the recipient of the Alan Marshall Medal (Rookie Umpire of the Year), the Panel 2 Medal and the George Borwick Memorial Award, the Association’s highest honour for an active match official which considers captains’ assessments, meeting attendance and availability. This was Jake’s first season of umpiring having played first grade at Penrith, Hawkesbury and Fairfield Liverpool. Daksh Trivedi (Panel 3) and Andrew Searle (Panel 4) also received panel medals recognising their consistently very good performances across the season as determined by captains’ assessments.

Dick French and Jake Wholohan

We recognised scorers and umpires with representative certificates, along with all members who officiated in national finals in season 2023-24 with a medallion which included in attendance Gerard Abood, Mitchell Claydon, Nathan Harvey, Toni Lorraine, Lauren McGill, Troy Penman, Adrian Tham and Ian Wright.

Several members were acknowledged for their years of membership and service, including (20 years) Paul Dilley, Pat Kerin and Balvinder Kumar; (25 years) Toni Lorraine and Ken Shaw); (30 years) Stephen Poole and Graham Watson; (35 years) Tom Iceton.

Several members in attendance brought up significant match milestones this season including Roberto Howard (200 matches), Tim Donahoo (400 matches) and Neil Smith (600 matches), each being presented with a certificate. 

We recognised the debuts of Janelle Carew (Scorer – BBL), Mitchell Claydon (Umpire – WBBL and WNCL) and Ben Treloar (Umpire – WODI and WT20I). Claire Polosak’s first-class umpiring debut was also acknowledged, Claire being unable to attend due to her being en route to Karachi to umpire the women’s international bilateral series between Pakistan and West Indies. 

The 2023-24 cricket season was a successful one for the NSWCUSA and this was well celebrated on Saturday evening. Thank you to the team of Troy Penman, Claire Polosak, Bede Sajowitz and Ben Treloar for their exceptional commitment to servicing NSWCUSA members, affiliated associations, and the wider cricket community. They do an awesome job, possessing a fantastic work ethic and delivering equally fantastic results. 

CNSW supports and resources match officials more than any other S&TCA. For this we express our gratitude.